OK... what would make the Ultimate 3rd hand.....

How many Arms.... how long...... different attachements???

Other Ideas????

Swapable/quick release jaws - swap between gator clips, flat tweezer spring loaded types, and softpadded low squeeze springs.
How about one that is just a post - something to you can slide open ended pieces over . I just put a nail in the open end and turn down the thumb screw. I also use it as a knot holder. Wrap the string around the nail, hold the other end with the other jaws, then I'm free to tie a knot at the nail end and slip it off easiliy when done.

I use a typical 3rd hand and size wise it's ok, nice 6-7 inch main bar with a shoulder and an elbo.

I double duty mine and use it as a painting holder - for this I only use arm. So a removeable arm would be nice. Remove it to keep it out of the way. Maybe a total of three arms with two removable ones?

Anything with better eyesight than I've got!

The thing on the end of a large busted blondes' arm usually works for me!

OK, OK...............LOL

Traditional ones:



Modular one


A More "Flexible" version


Which one seems to be the most Versitile???

I’ve gotta go with Dave on this one.

Never used anything like that but looking at those pictures I think it would be the last one or second to last.
Wouldn’t mind seeing the flexible arms from the last one mounted on a bigger base. Of course it would depend on how flexible they are. Wouldn’t want them falling over on there own or anything.

I go for cheap and chearful. Toothpics can sit in any direction.



Polystyrene or foam packaging cost nothing.

They foam packing is good for some stuff...... if you're trying to sloder and need a bunch of "finger"s that can go in all directions at some awkward angle from the top..... it's kinda limited.

IMHO, the flexible one, with about 4 to 6 more "gators" and at longer lengths. Flex is the better option over "jointed" ones...so much easier to put into the proper position. The longer lengths will just add to the usefulness.

Mike

It would be cool to have a real third arm

Alasdair Johnston's MagnaBot from Zenith Modelling looks like an excellent third-arm set-up--if only it were actually possible to obtain one from outside the UK:

http://www.zenithmodelling.com/Zenith%20MAG%20Bots3MA.html


Am I the only one who thinks the "flexible" third arm set up looks a bit "War of the Worlds"-ish? I could somehow picture the arms twisting and winding around by themselves, grabbing me around the finger as the big magnifying glass scrutinizes the Earthling......creepy.

Rory - nice post, Alasdair's version is nice. And no war of the worlds does come to mind on the flexi arms.

Velveeta cheese box and some toothpicks is about as cheap as you can get. Just find a small cardboard box. Add some weight to the inside the box if necessary. Small box little project, bigger box bigger project.

Bump....... Anyone else have any Ideas as to what they'd like to see on a 3rd Hand????

The consensus seems to be a combination of the 3rd and 4th Pics I posted or one similar to #4 with a bigger base with more holes in it.

I have one similar to the second pic. It's handy at times, but a bit bigger would be nice too.

Funny you should say that....recently, I actually did undergo the transplantation of a third arm onto my person--an "armoplasty", if you will. Unfortunately, the arm at one time belonged to a particular primate, a chimpanzee named "Mr. Noodles", when it became available following a very unfortunate circus accident. The only problem, apparently unforeseen, is that the arm hangs down well below my knees, and tends to drag a bit when it is cold outside. It also has this very annoying tendency to pick at my scalp on it's own accord, and throw feces at onlookers, which is a bit hard to explain. Fortunately, the thumb is opposable, thank god. I don't know how I would ever handle photo-etch if it weren't....I wouldn't want to think it was all for naught.